Kevin Spacey, Russell Brand Docs Among 2024 British Documentary Awards Shortlist

The Grierson Trust has announced the shortlist for the 2024 British Documentary Awards, with the BBC coming top at 28 entries.

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Channel 4 follows closely behind with 23, Netflix with 17, Sky Documentaries with eight and National Geographic with four. The shortlist spans 15 program and presenter categories to reflect the best documentary singles and series launched across broadcasters, streamers and online, as well as theatrical releases.

This year’s awards includes a new category titled best popular culture documentary, open to single documentaries or an episode from a strand or series that depicts people, events, movements or trends that have had a major impact on pop culture in recent years. Shortlisted entries in this category cover a hoax pedophile scare created by Internet users, one of the U.K.’s most prominent performance poets, and an investigation into allegations of abuse against Kevin Spacey .

The Arts category features several films about fashion industry icons such as Coco Chanel and John Galliano, plus the first black supermodel, alongside the life of photographer Dan Winters and the genius of Shakespeare. Music is represented through films and series covering Disco, K-pop and composing a contemporary American Symphony.

The History and Science categories cover contemporary subjects from the U.K. and internationally, including the Space Shuttle disaster, the rise of the far right, the miners’ strike and former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“This year’s shortlist highlights the power of documentaries to tell new stories that cut through in a sea of content that’s constantly fighting for our attention,” said Lorraine Heggessey, chair of the Grierson Trust. “These films really connect with audiences, uncovering characters and perspectives that have previously been unseen. We have been so impressed by the breadth and range of entries which demonstrate that — despite the very difficult current climate — our industry remains committed to identifying new talent and exploring pressing issues such as mental health, sexuality, gender and disability, all through best-in-class filmmaking.”

The shortlisted films will now go on to be judged by category juries who will decide the four nominations and winner in each. The awards ceremony takes place Nov. 6 at iconic music arts venue Roundhouse, in London.

The Grierson Trust’s British Documentary Awards’s headline sponsor is All3Media. Category sponsors include BBC, Channel 4, ENVY, Fulwell 73, Netflix, Sky Documentaries, Broadcast Sport and Televisual, as well as supporters the British Council, Picture Shop and Satusfaction.

See the full shortlist below.

ENVY Best Single Documentary – Domestic

Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax , Story Films, All3Media International – Channel 4

Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family , Flicker Productions – ITV

Forced Out: Their Fight for Pride , Dragonfly Film and Television Productions Ltd – Sky Documentaries

Hatton , Noah Media Group – Sky Documentaries

Me and the Voice in My Head , Hungry Bear Media Ltd – Channel 4

Otto Baxter: Not a F***ing Horror Story , Story Films, Archface Films – Sky Documentaries

Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything , Studio 99 – Prime Video

Wham! , A Netflix Documentary, Ventureland, Passion Pictures, Library Films, Nemperor Production – Netflix

Best Single Documentary – International

Another Body , WILLA, Remarkably Calm, Murmuration, Impact Partners – BBC

My Name Is Happy , October Films, Red Zed Films, Horovel Films – Channel 4

Summer Qamp , Bright West Entertainment, Hello Friend, Cineflix Productions – Human Rights Watch Film Festival

Tell Them You Love Me , Mindhouse Productions – Sky Documentaries

To Kill a Tiger , Notice Pictures Inc. and The National Film Board of Canada – Netflix

Storyville – Total Trust Surveillance State , Witfilm and Interactive Media Foundation, B8, ZDF, Arte, NTR – BBC

Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods , Hoyo Films Ltd – BBC

While We Watched , BritDoc Films, LONO, MetFilm – Theatrical release

Televisual Best Current Affairs Documentary

20 Days in Mariupol, Frontline, PBS and the Associated Press – Theatrical release

Bobi Wine: The People’s President , Southern Films, Ventureland, National Geographic Documentary Films – National Geographic

Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua , BBC Africa Eye in co-production with Open Democracy – BBC

Evacuation – We Just Left Them , Wonderhood Studios – Channel 4

Putin vs. the West: At War – Invasion , Brook Lapping Productions – BBC

Dispatches – Russell Brand: In Plain Sight , Hardcash Productions, Channel 4 Investigation Unit – Channel 4

The Other War , BBC Current Affairs – BBC

You Are Not Alone: Fighting the Wolf Pack , Lucernam Films – Netflix

Best Arts Documentary

Arena – Coco Chanel Unbuttoned , whynow Studios – BBC

Donyale Luna: Supermodel , Lightbox, Jeff Friday Media, The American Black Film Festival – Sky Documentaries

High & Low – John Galliano , KGB Films – Theatrical release

Madu , Disney Branded Television and Hunting Lane Films – Disney+

Photographer – Dan Winters: Life Is Once. Forever , Little Monster Films, National Geographic – National Geographic

Shakespeare: Rise of a Genius , Episode 1 , 72 Films – BBC

Squaring The Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis , Raindog Films Ltd – Theatrical release

Yellow Door: ’90s Lo-fi Film Club , Broccoli Pictures Co. Ltd – Netflix

Sky Documentaries Best Music Documentary

American Symphony , Higher Ground, Mercury Studios, Our Time Projects – Netflix

BBC Eye Investigations – Burning Sun: Exposing the Secret K-Pop Chat Groups , BBC Eye – BBC

Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution – Rock the Boat , BBC Studios, BBC/PBS co-production – BBC

Don’t Ever Stop , Restless Films – Doc’n Roll Festival

Louis Theroux Interviews – Pete Doherty , Mindhouse Productions – BBC

Milli Vanilli , Keep On Running Pictures, Fulwell 73 – Paramount+

The Greatest Night in Pop , A Netflix Documentary, MRC Film, Dorothy St Pictures Production in association with Makemake Entertainment – Netflix

Wham! , A Netflix Documentary, Ventureland, Passion Pictures, Library Films, Nemperor Production – Netflix

Broadcast Sport Best Sports Documentary

Amputating Alice , Noah Media Group – Channel 4

Copa 71 , New Black Films – Theatrical release

Hatton , Noah Media Group – Sky Documentaries

Mark Cavendish: Never Enough , A Netflix Documentary, Pitch Productions Film – Netflix

Mighty Penguins , Meadowlark, Firelight, Fever – Theatrical release

One Night in Millstreet , Fastnet Films, Proposition Films – Theatrical release

Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything , Studio 99 – Prime Video

The Deepest Breath , An A24, Motive Films and Ventureland Production – Netflix

Best History Documentary

Defiance: Fighting the Far Right – Episode 1 , Rogan Productions and GroupM Motion Entertainment in association with Left Handed Films – Channel 4

Eldorado: Everything the Nazis Hate , A Netflix Documentary, Thursday Company Production – Netflix

JFK: One Day in America – Assassination , 72 Films – National Geographic

Miners’ Strike: A Frontline Story , The Garden – BBC

Stamped From the Beginning , A Netflix Documentary, One Story Up Production – Netflix

The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson – Episode 1 , 72 Films – Channel 4

The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth – Episode 1 , Mindhouse Productions – BBC

Union With David Olusoga – Union and Disunion , Wall to Wall Media, Uplands Television – BBC

Best Science Documentary

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Better Off Dead? , Burning Bright Productions – BBC

Earth – Human , BBC Studios – BBC

Evolution Earth – Islands , Produced by Passion Planet in association with PBS and Arte France for Love Nature – Sky Nature

Me and the Voice in My Head, Hungry Bear Media Ltd – Channel 4

Secrets of the Neanderthals , A Netflix Documentary with BBC Studios Production – Netflix

Exposure – The Clinic , Rogan Scotland – ITV

The Jennings vs. Alzheimer’s , Expectation Entertainment – BBC

The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth – Episode 1 , Mindhouse Productions – BBC

Best Natural History or Environmental Documentary

BBC Eye Investigations – Breathless , BBC News Eye Investigations – BBC

Living With Leopards , A Netflix Documentary, Wild Space Production in association with Natural History Film Unit Botswana and Freeborne Media – Netflix

Planet Earth III – Heroes , BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced by BBC America, ZDF, FTV and The Open University – BBC

Silverback , An Off the Fence Production for BBC in co production with France Télévisions in association with Featuristic Films – BBC

The Great Rhino Robbery – Dead or Alive , BBC Studios – Sky Documentaries

Tiger , Wildstar Films – Disney+

Tigers on the Rise , Wildstar Films – Disney+

Wilding , A Passion Planet and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios Production – Theatrical release Channel 4

Best Popular Culture Documentary

Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax , Story Films – Channel 4

Arena – Being Kae Tempest , Bohemia Films and The Open University – BBC

Big Zuu Goes to Mecca , Acme TV – BBC

Milli Vanilli , Keep On Running Pictures, Fulwell 73 Productions – Paramount+

Miriam: Death of a Reality Star – The Truth , Expectation Factual – Channel 4

Spacey Unmasked – Episode 1 , Roast Beef Productions in association with All3Media International – Channel 4

The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson – Episode 1 , 72 Films – Channel 4

The Sidemen Story , Pangaea – Netflix

Netflix Best Documentary Series

American Nightmare , RAW – Netflix

Cold Case Investigators: Solving Britain’s Sex Crimes , Brinkworth Productions – BBC

Evacuation , Wonderhood Studios – Channel 4

Imposter: The Man Who Came Back From the Dead , Five Mile Films – Channel 4

Lockerbie , Mindhouse Productions – Sky Documentaries

Miners’ Strike 1984: The Battle for Britain , Swan Films – Channel 4

The Push: Murder on the Cliff , Candour Productions – Channel 4

To Catch a Copper , Story Films – Channel 4

Best Cinema Documentary

20 Days in Mariupol , Frontline, PBS and The Associated Press – Theatrical release

American Symphony , Higher Ground, Mercury Studios, Our Time Projects – Netflix

Bobi Wine: The People’s President , Southern Films, Ventureland, National Geographic Documentary Films – National Geographic

Kokomo City , Couch Potato Company, Madison Square Films – Theatrical release

Queendom , Sundance Institute, Doc Society, Inmaat Productions, Vancouver Film School – Theatrical release

The Deepest Breath , An A24, Motive Films and Ventureland Production – Netflix

The Eternal Memory , Fabula – Theatrical release

Your Fat Friend , Glimmer Films – Theatrical release

All3Media Best Student Documentary

Beyond These Walls , National Film and Television School – University/college screening

Burnt Country , National Film and Television School – University/college screening

Hungry for Freedom , National Film and Television School – University/college screening

Mail Order Queens , National Film and Television School – University/college screening

Milk , National Film and Television School – University/college screening

Sahan Shakti: Fortitude , University of Manchester – University/college screening

The Story of Kween Deekayy , Goldsmiths University – University/college screening

The Waiter, the Scientist and Jenny , National Film and Television School – University/college screening

Fulwell 73 Best Documentary Short

Big Moves , Bridging the Gap: Outsiders – Edinburgh International Film Festival

Black Stroke , BPCS Films Limited – Netflix Still Watching YouTube Channel

BBC News Eye Investigations – Gaza 101: Emergency Rescue , BBC News Arabic – BBC

Iranian Yellow Pages , Snow Films, WDM Entertainment – Netflix Still Watching YouTube Channel

My Blonde GF , Tyke Films Ltd, in association with 16 Productions Ltd – theguardian.com

Puffling , Beehive Films Ltd – The New Yorker, Emergence Magazine

Ted & Noel , Happenstance Films – Channel 4

The Winterkeeper , Guardian Documentaries – theguardian.com

Best Documentary Presenter

Ellie Simmonds for Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family , Flicker Productions – ITV

Joe Tracini for Me and the Voice in My Head , Hungry Bear Media Ltd – Channel 4

Nadifa Mohamed for Britain’s Human Zoos , Red Bicycle with Milk & Honey – Channel 4

Oobah Butler for The Great Amazon Heist , Zandland – Channel 4

Rhod Gilbert for Rhod Gilbert: A Pain in the Neck , Kailash Films, Llanbobl Vision – Channel 4

Rose Ayling-Ellis for Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change , Rogan Productions – BBC

Stacey Dooley for DNA Family Secrets – Episode 1 , Minnow Films – BBC

Zuhair “Big Zuu” Hassan for Big Zuu Goes to Mecca , Acme TV – BBC

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